Nature constantly surprises us. Did you know that in the depths of the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo live unusual animals that look like both giraffes and zebras? They are known as okapi (Okapia johnstoni) and, despite their resemblance to horses, belong to the giraffe family. Due to their secretive lifestyle, they were officially discovered only in 1901 – this event became a sensation. When reports of the existence of a “giraffe-zebra hybrid” first appeared, even the most experienced scientists did not believe it. But today, there are many interesting things to say about the okapi.
Okapi is an elusive animal of the Republic of Congo. Source: sigmaearth.com
Contents
- 1 Mysterious animals of Africa
- 2 Okapi in zoos
- 3 Modern relatives of giraffes
- 4 Okapi lifestyle
Mysterious animals of Africa
Scientists first learned that “forest horses” lived in the depths of the Congo in 1887. The first person to talk about them was the American explorer of the African continent Henry Morton Stanley. But the search for the mysterious animal was conducted by explorer Harry Johnston, in whose honor the okapi received its species name Okapia johnstoni.
One of the first images of okapi. Source: elementy.ru
He managed to find only okapi tracks. The description of these animals was given by local residents and, as it turned out later, it was very accurate. The first photo of an okapi in the wild was taken only in 2008 using a camera trap – these creatures are so secretive and fast.
First photo of an okapi in the wild. Source: wired.com
Although okapi were discovered over 100 years ago, no one has ever managed to track them in the wild. In the early 20th century, scientists were able to determine that they belong to the giraffe family only because local residents shared their skins with them.
Okapi in Zoos
Later, it turned out that the people of the Congo often catch okapis using traps. Many attempts were made to keep the captured animals in zoos, but they required special conditions and died. Today, people already know how to care for them, and live okapis can be seen in 143 zoos around the world.
Okapi at the zoo. Source: mag.mulhouse-alsace.fr
To prevent their extinction, conservationists try to place them in reserves. The okapi population is threatened not only by local residents, but also by poachers. In addition, forests in Africa are being cut down – the natural habitats of these amazing animals.
No Photoshop: these giant animals exist in reality
Modern relatives of giraffes
Despite belonging to the horse family, okapis are most similar to horses. From giraffes, they inherited the bony horns on their heads (only males have them), as well as a very long tongue, with which they grab leaves from tall trees and put them in their mouths. According to modern research, okapis are the closest living relatives of giraffes. The evolutionary lines of okapis and giraffes diverged approximately 11.5 million years ago.
The okapi has horns and a long tongue. Source: zootierliste.de
The okapi's back is brown, but its limbs are black and white and striped – just like zebras. The body length of forest horses is about 2 meters, and their weight can reach 250 kilograms.
Okapi has something in common with both giraffes and zebras. Source: chudo-prirody.com
You might be interested in: Why don't people ride zebras?
Okapi lifestyle
Okapi feed exclusively on plant food. They grasp tree branches with their long tongue and rip off leaves with a sliding motion. Okapis do not have such a long neck as giraffes, so they have to look for trees that they can reach. Sometimes they eat fruits and even fruit. Animals need minerals, so they sometimes eat clay from the banks of forest streams.
The amazing animals of Congo are active only during the day, at night they sleep in safe places. They live alone, males and females see each other only during the mating season. Sometimes camera traps film how they gather in small groups, but why they do this is currently unknown to science.
The tongue is the okapi's main tool. Source: fishki.net
Okapi pregnancy lasts 450 days, that is, a little more than one year. After the birth of the cub, the females go as far away from it as possible. For several days, the cub lies in a dense forest. The mother returns to it a little later, guided by sounds. Scientists also do not know why they do this. Perhaps in this way, the females teach the cubs how to survive in the wild.
The okapi population is endangered because they are hunted by humans. The lifespan of okapi in the wild is unknown because it is impossible to observe them – they hear any rustling perfectly well and hide among the trees. But in reserves and zoos, some individuals live up to 30 years.
Okapi mothers are very attached to their children. Source: chudo-prirody.com
Okapi are such mysterious creatures that in 1982, an image of one of their specimens became the emblem of the International Society of Cryptozoology. This is the name of the pseudoscience in which people try to find traces of the existence of the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, and other creatures. This community ceased to exist in 1998.
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Okapi can be called masters of camouflage. If you want to learn about other animals that are difficult to notice, read our article “The Most Inconspicuous Animals in the World – Try to Find Them in Photos.”